Tool and method for opening sealed containers



1966 w. H. J. CAMBIER VAN NOOTEN 3,289,289

TOOL AND METHOD FOR OPENING SEALED CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 15, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

1966 w. H. J. CAMBIER VAN NOOTEN 3,289,289

TOOL AND METHOD FOR OPENING SEALED CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 15, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet z United States Patent C 3,289,289 TOOL AND METHGD FOR OPENING SEALED CONTAINERS Wilhem H. J. Cambier van Nooten, Amsterdam, Noordholland, Netherlands, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Van Leer Industries Limited, Birmingham, England, a limited-liability company Filed Feb. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 258,814 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Feb. 21, 1962, 6,713/ 62 4 Claims. (Cl. 29-427) "llhe present invention relates generally to the opening of sealed containers of the type employing one or more capseals which generally overlie closure plugs dis-posed in a wall of the container and, more particularly, to an improved universal tool suitable for use in removing such capseals and for operatively engaging the closure plug. In its principal aspects, the invention is concerned with a method of, and tool for, unsealing a container closure including a capseal.

Containers of the type generally used for packaging, storing and shipping of various commodities, for example, oil and oil products, and other liquid, semiliquid, pulverized or granular substances, are usually provided with a capseal having a skirt, the lower edge of which is crimped, wheeled or otherwise turned inwardly under a collar surrounding the filling and draining or pouring orifice. In this manner the orifice is sealed in a liquid-tight and in a tamperproof and pilferproof way. A screw plug or some other closure means may be insorted in the orifice to be sealed before applying the capseal, although such additional closure means are not essential.

A typical capseal which has proved reflective, commercially practical, and is currently in widespread use, is the type which includes at least one, but more often two, laterally extending cars, at least one of which is periorated, and one or more score lines extending from the ear across the top of the capseal. A conventional method of unscaling the closure comprises the destruction and removal of the capseal by gripping the extremity of one ear with pliers which are applied transversely of the ear and rotated about their longitudinal axis so as to tear the capseal along the score lines, thus simultaneously winding the ear and the alined strip torn out of the capseal onto the jaws of the pliers.

It has been found, however, that the foregoing method for 'unsealing closures has a number of disadvantages. For example, the conventional method is laborious and time consuming since it requires that the piiers be rotated manually a number of times. Moreover, if the unsealin'g operation is not carried out with some care, the strip torn out of the capseal may not be wound correctly (i.e., with one coil directly on top of the other) so that a coil may slip off the pliers and the strip may even be broken before it is tom any substantial distance across the cap. If, as in most cases, a screw plug is applied to the container before applying the capseal, the conventional method requires the use of two tools, eg, a pliers or another tool for destroying or removing the capseal and a wrench for unscrewing the plug.

It is a general aim of the present invention to provide an improved capseal removing method and tool which overcome all of the foregoing disadvantages and which are not only effective for tearing a capseal off a container, but which accomplish this more readily than previous methods and devices.

A related object of the invention is to provide a capseal removing method and tool characterized by their ease and rapidity of operation, yet which are reliable and preclude or minimize the possibility of the capseal being only partially torn ofi? by the container.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a universal tool characterized by its versatility and which is not only suitable for destroying and removing different size capseals, but is also useful in removing diiferent size closure plugs which may be inserted into the openings in container walls.

In another of its important aspects, it is an object of the invention to provide a capseal removing hand tool which is characterized by its simplicity and which employs only a few component parts, thus permitting of economic fabrication, yet which is of universal utility for its intended purposes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a conventional capseal adapted to be applied to an orifice in a container wall;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a tool embodying the features of the present invention and which finds particularly advantageous use in opening containers sealed with capseals of the type shown in FIG. 1;.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the tool shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the tool shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are side elevations which respectively illustrate successive stages of the operation for unsealing a capseal with a hand tool in accordance with the present invention; and,

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation, here illustrating the tool shown in FIG. 2 as it is being used to operatively engage a screw plug or similar closure.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a conventional capseal, generally indicated at 10, comprising a top portion 11 and a depending annular skirt 12;, the lower edge of the skirt adapted to be crimped, wheeled or otherwise turned inwardly under a collar 14 (FIG. 8) surrounding an orifice formed in a wall 15 of a drum or similar container (not shown), so as to provide a liquid-tight and a tamperproof and pilferproof seal for the drum. While the specific details of the drum construction are not critical to the present invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that such drums usually include a filling or pouring hole commonly closed by means of a plug, termed a 2 inch plug, and a venting hole closed by means of a plug, termed a /4 inch plug, both plugs being sealed by means of appropriately dimensioned capseals 10 of the type shown in FIG. 1. The present invention is concerned with an improved method and hand tool which find particularly advantageous use in unsealing and opening such sealed closures.

The illustrative capseal 10 includes two ears 16 which extend laterally from the lower edge of the skirt 12 and afford points for application of a tool suitable for tearing the capseal open. In order to facilitate this operation, the capseal 10 is further provided with two score lines 18 which extend across the top 11 of the capseal and are in alignment with the ears 16, thus defining a central tear strip 19. Preferably, the score lines 18,,

3 and hence the tear strip 19, also extend down the skirt 12. At least one of the ears 16 has a perforation 26) formed therein which permits threading of a sealing wire (not shown) therethrough when the drum is closed and .sealed by application of the capseal 10 thereto.

In accordance with one of the important aspects of the present invention, provision is made for rapidly tearing the central tear strip 19 out of a capseal 111 in a single motion. In the exemplary form of the invention, this is accomplished by utilization of a novel hand tool, generally indicated at 21 in FIG. 2, which is operatively engaged with the perforated ear 16 and which is swung through a plane normal to the top 11 of the capseal it? about successive fulcrum points located on the external surfaces of the capseal and drum wall 15.

In keeping with the principal objectives of the invention, and as will be observed by reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 conjointly, the illustrative hand tool 21 embodying the features of the invention includes a base portion 22 and a handle portion constituted by a straight tube or lever 24- disposed in generally perpendicular relationship to the base portion and rigidly secured thereto by means of a weld 25. Of course, the two parts may be secured to one another in any other appropriate way, or the may be integral. The base portion 22 is provided with a pin 26 projecting laterally therefrom and having a diameter which permits insertion of the pin into the perforation 20 in the conventional capseal car 16. The pin 26 is removably, and thus interchangeably, positioned in a bore 28 formed in the base 22 and fixed therein by means of a locking pin 29. In order to insure that the tool 21 will positively engage the capseal ear 16 without risk of the pin 26 slipping out of the perforation 29 during use, the pin 26 has formed therein a transverse groove 30 (best illustrated in FIG. 4) having substantially parallel walls adapted to receive and operatively engage the edge of the capseal ear 16 adjacent the perforation 20 therein.

For the purpose of increasing the versatility of the hand tool 21, the base 22 is provided with an end portion 31 which is so shaped and dimensioned that it may be introduced into the tool receiving recess of a conventional screw plug (not shown). Thus, the end portion 31 operatively engages the recess so as to permit use of the tool 21 as a wrench for the purpose of loosening or tightening of the closure plug. To accomplish this, the end portion 31 has a width W' on the order of 45 millimeters (l' /4 inches) so that it is adapted to operate conventional 2 inch plugs.

In carrying out the capseal removal method of the present invention with, for example, the exemplary hand tool 21 hereinabove described, the pin 26 is inserted into the perforation 20 in the capseal car 16 while the tool is in the position shown in FIG. 5; that is, with the handle 24 substantially parallel to the score lines 18 and the central tear strip 19 of the capseal top 11 extending away therefrom. The groove 30 in the pin .26 is operatively engaged with the edge of the car 16 adjacent the perforation 20, and the tool 21 is then manually swung around by means of the handle 24 (in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5) in a plane substantially normal to the plane of the top 11 of the capseal 1t? and in the longitudinal direction of the score lines 18 and thus of the handle 24 and of the central tear strip 19. During this swinging operation, the base 22 is initially supported on the adjacent circumferential edge of the capseal (FIG. 6), then on the top 11 thereof, and thereafter on the remote circumferential edge of the capseal (FIG. 7), with each of these points defining a fulcrum for the tool. The length L (FIG. 3) of the base 22, as measured in the longitudinal direction of the pin 26, is preferably on the order of 90 millimeters (3 /2 inches to 3%; inches), thereby permitting the end portion 31 to finally engage the wall of the drum (e.g., the top face of the drum head) so that this point of con- Cit tact may act as the final fulcrum for the lever action.

As a result of and incidental to this operative movement of the tool 21, the capseal 10 is torn in the longitudinal direction of the capseal cars 16 and along the score lines 18 so that the central tear strip 19 is severed from the capseal, whereupon the thus broken capseal may be removed from the collar 14 (FIG. 8) surroundin the orifice in the drum.

In those instances where the container closure also includes a screw plug (not shown), removal of the capseal lltl exposes the tool receiving recess in the plug. Therefore, the plug may be unscrewed by utilizing the same tool 21 as a wrench. To attain this objective, the end portion 31 of the base 22 is introduced into the tool receiving recess of the plug (that is, the tool is positioned as shown in FIG. 8) and the tool 21 is then rotated by means of the handle 24 which is sw-ung in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the orifice in the wall 15. Of course, the tool 21 may also be used for screwing plugs into container closures.

As hereinbefore set forth, the hand tool 21 and the capseal removing method of the present invention find particularly advantageous use with drums provided with a venting hole which is normally closed by means of a conventional inch plug and sealed by an appropriately dimensioned capseal 10. The latter can be unsealed by means of the pin 26, ultimately using the end portion 31 as the fulcrum for the lever action. However, the leng L of the base 22 is somewhat large for such small capseals, and therefore, the base is provided with a second pin 32 projecting laterally therefrom and formed and secured as described above with respect to the pin 26. Consequently, the width L of the base 22 measured in the longitudinal direction of the second pin 32 is preferably made on the order of 52 millimeters (2 inches) so as to adapt it to the smaller size capseal, thus facilitating use of the tool.

In order to also permit use of the tool 21 for screwing and unscrewing inch plugs, the base 22 includes a second end portion 34, the width W of which is preferably on the order of 15 millimeters (W inch to /8 inch) so that it may be introduced into the tool receiving recess of the smaller plugs and is capable of 0peratively engaging such recesses.

While the present invention has been described in conjunction with a exemplary universal tool 21, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the tool may take numerous other forms and still fall within the scope of the appended claims. Merely by way of example, the second pin 32 and the second end portion 34 might be provided on a second base portion secured to or integral with the other end of the tubular handle 24. Also, a second base portion might be provided and both base portions might have two pins and two end portions so that the tool can be used for unsealing and opening four types or sizes of capseals and screw plugs.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of unsealing a container closure including a capseal having at least one laterally extending perforated ear and one or more score lines extending from the ear across the top of the capseal, said method comrising the steps of applying a tool having a base portion with a laterally projecting pin and a handle portion affixed to the base portion with the handle portion including a lever disposed in substantially perpendicular relationship to the plane of the base portion, inserting said pin into the perforation in the capseal car while the tool is positioned. with its handle portion substantially parallel to the ear, swinging said tool round in a plane substantially normal to the capseal and in the longitudinal direction of the ear while supporting said base portion successively on the adjacent circumferential edge of said capseal, then on the top thereof and thereafter on the remote circumferential edge of said capseal, thereby tearing said capseal in the longitudinal direction of said capseal ear and substantially along the score lines, and removing the thus broken capseal.

2. A method according to claim 1, in which subsequent to removal of said capseal and end portion of said base portion is introduced into the tool receiving recess of a screw plug applied to the container closure and revealed by the removal of said capseal, and said plug is unscrewed while using said tool as a wrench.

3. A universal tool for use in opening a container closure of the type including at least one of a closure plug having a tool receiving recess and a capseal having a laterally extending perforated ear with at least one score line extending from the ear across the top of the capseal, said tool comprising, in combination, a base portion, means on said base portion defining a pin projecting laterally therefrom and adapted to be inserted into the perforation in the capseal ear, said base portion having at least one end portion dimensioned for operative engagement with the tool receiving recess in the closure plug, a handle portion afiixed to said base portion, said handle portion including a lever disposed in substantially perpendicular relationship to the plane of said base portion, whereby said tool may be selectively utilized to destroy the capseal by tearing the latter along the score line as the tool is swung through a plane substantially normal thereto, and to operate the closure plug, and said pin having a transverse groove formed therein adjacent said base portion for receiving the edge of said ear adjacent said perforation, said groove facing in the general direction of the handle.

4. A universal tool for use in opening a container closure of the type including at least one of a closure plug having a tool receiving recess and a capseal having a laterally extending perforated ear with at least one score line extending from the ear across the top of the capseal, said tool comprising, in combination, a base portion, means on said base portion defining a pin projecting laterally therefrom and adapted to be inserted into the perforation in the capseal ear, said base portion having at least one end portion dimensioned for operative engagement with the tool receiving recess in the closure plug, a handle portion aflixed to said base portion, said handle portion including a lever disposed in substantially perpendicular relationship to the plane of said base portion, whereby said tool may be selectively utilized to destroy the capseal by tearing the latter along the score line as the tool is swung through a plane substantially normal thereto, and to operate the closure plug, said base portion including means defining a second pin projecting laterally therefrom, and the length of said base portion as measured in the longitudinal direction of said first named pin is different from the width of said base portion as measured in the longitudinal direction of said second pin.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 118,456 8/1871 Jenner 714.6 2,760,671 8/ 1956 Parish 22039 X 3,099,364 7/1963 Todd 22039 X FOREIGN PATENTS 598,155 2/1948 Great Britain.

CHARLIE T. MOON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A METHOD OF UNSEALING A CONTAINER CLOSURE INCLUDING A CAPSEAL HAVING AT LEAST ONE LATERALLY EXTENDING PERFORATED EAR AND ONE OR MORE SCORE LINES EXTENDING FROM THE EAR ACROSS THE TOP OF THE CAPSEAL, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF APPLYING A TOOL HAVING A BASE PORTION WITH A LATERALLY PROJECTIONG PIN AND A HANDLE PORTION AFFIXED TO THE BASE PORTION WITH TEH HANDLE PORTION INCLUDING A LEVER DISPOSED IN SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR RELATIONSHIP TO THE PLANE OF THE BASE PORTION, INSERTING SAID PIN INTO THE PERFORATION IN THE CAPSEAL EAR WHILE THE TOOL IS POSITIONED WITH ITS HANDLE PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE EAR, SWINGING SAID TOOL AROUND IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE CAPSEAL AND IN THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OF THE EAR WHILE SUPPORTING SAID BASE PORTION SUCCESSIVELY ON THE ADJACENT CIRCUMFERENTIAL EDGE OF SAID CAPSEAL, THEN ON THE TOP THEREOF AND THEREAFTER ON THE REMOTE CIRCUMFERENTIAL EDGE OF SAID CAPSEAL, THEREBY TEARING SAID CAPSEAL IN THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OF SAID CAPSEAL EAR AND SUBSTANTIALLY ALONG THE SCORE LINES, AND REMOVING THE THUS BROKEN CAPSEAL.
 3. A UNIVERSAL TOOL FOR USE IN OPENING A CONTAINER CLOSURE OF THE TYPE INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE OF A CLOSURE PLUG HAVING A TOOL RECEIVING RECESS AND A CAPSEAL HAVING A LATERALLY EXTENDING PERFORATED WAR WITH AT LEAST ONE SOCRE LINE EXTENDING FROM THE EAR ACROSS THE TOP OF THE CAPSEAL, SAID TOOL COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A BASE PORTION, MEANS ON SAID BASE PORTION DEFINING A PIN PROJECTING LATERALLY THEREFROM AWND ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED INTO THE PERFORATION IN THE CAPSEAL EAR, SAID BASE PORTION HAVING AT LEAST ONE END PORTION DIMENSIONED FOR OPERATIVE HAVING GAGEMENT WITH THE TOOL RECEIVING RECESS IN THE CLOSURE PLUG, A HANDLE PORTION AFFIXED TO SAID BASE PORTION, SAID HANDLE PORTION INCLUDING A LEVER DISPOSED IN SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR RELATIONSHIP TO THE PLANE OF SAID BASE PORTION, WHEREBY SAID TOOL MAY BE SELECTIVELY UTILIZED TO DESTROY THE CAPSEAL BY TEARING THE LATTER ALONG THE SCORE LINE AS THE TOOL IS SWUNG THROUGH A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL THERETO, AND TO OPERATE THE CLOSURE PLUG, AND SAID PIN HAVING A TRANSVERSE GROOVE FORMED THEREIN ADJACCENT SAID BASE PORTION FOR RECEIVING THE EDGE OF SAID EAR ADJACENT SAID PERFORATION, SAID GROOVE FACING IN THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF THE HANDLE. 